Station-indicator



(No Model.)

-' 'A. B. GILL.

STATION INDICATOR Patented July 24, 1883.

$5. W/i SWA/NWE: Iii:

.Iigd.

WITNESSES:

NITED STATES "PATENT QFFIQEQ AsIIEn i3. GILL, 0E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. I

STATI QN-INDICATOR.

SFEGiFIfClATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,684, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed Apr1l13,1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ASHER B. GILL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a new and useful Im provement in Station and Road Indicators, which improvement is fully set forth in the fol operating the same, whereby an approaching station, cross-road, &c., may be announced to the engineer, conductor, or other. train-hand.

It also consists of an indicator having an apron on which is announced the names of stations, names of or marks indicating crossroads, bridges, &c., and the distances of the route and from one station, cross-road, &c., to another, whereby an engineer or conductor may be readily and reliably informed of the approach to a station, &c., and generally of the whereabouts of the train.

It also consists of an index or finger for the apron of an indicator, made adjustable, so as to be set at the proper place and with precision in relation to the marks on the apron.

Referring to the drawings, -A represents a box or case, having an opening in one of its sides, preferably the front, which is occupied by a piece of glass or other transparent material, as at B.

0 represents a drum, which is mounted within the box, near the upper end thereof, and from the same depends an endless apron, D, the face whereof is adapted to be seen through the glass 13, and has on it the names of sta; tions, &c.

To the drum 0 is secured a ratchet, E, with which engages a dog or pawl, F, which is pivoted to a vertical slide, G, the latter being guided within the case A, and having connected with it a spring, H, suitably applied, for restoring the slide and dog to their normal positions, in which operation the dog is forced against a tooth of the ratchet, causing the rotation of the drum and motion of the apron D. The lower end of the slide has secured to it a rod, J, to which is attached a tripping-lever, .1, so disposed and mounted that it may be engaged by a lug or other projection along a railroad, the same being located so as to operate the lever J beforeatrain reachesa station, cross-road, bridge, &c.

K represents a roller, which is hung loosely within the apron D at the bottom thereof, for taking up the slack of the same, and thus keeping it taut, and L represents a spring-pressed roller, which is mounted on a hinged arm, L, secured within the case, and bears against the top of the apron on the drum 0, for keeping the apron in proper position and preventing slipping thereof, the roller being adapted to be raised in order to permit the removal and application of the apron.

It will be seen that when the lever J is depressed, the slide G is lowered, thus causing the dog F to ride freely over the teeth of the ratchet E. As soon as the lever is tripped the slide G quickly returns to its normal position, due to the action of the spring H, whereby the deg F removes the ratchet and apron, and the name or mark of the next station, cross-road, 8m, as presented, may be seen through the'glass B. In order to properly in dieate said station, &c., I provide a finger, M, which is connected with a rod located within the case A, and having on its outer end anut, N, said finger pointing to or across the face of the apron D, as more clearly seen in Fig. 1, and thereby showing the name of the station, &c.', to be indicated.

It will be seen that by rotating the nut N the finger may be raised or lowered, and thus o properly set in starting the indicator, and afterward adjusted with nicety and precision relatively to the marks on the apron.

Attached also to the slide G is a rod, which is connected with mechanism operating the hammer of a gong or hell, so that when the apron is shifted attention is directed thereto by the sound of said gong or bell'. The whistle may then be blown, the engine-bell rung, or other signals given, as desired or necessary.

When the indicator is placed in the cab of an engine, it may be illuminated at night, and

thus the engineer may readily know of the approach of the train to a station, cross-road, and generally of its whereabouts.

The apron has printed, painted, or otherwise marked on it the names of stations, erossroads, &c., or marks indicating the latter, together with the distances of the route and those from one station, &c., to another, whereby an engineer or conductor is conveniently and reliably supplied with information concerning the trip.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a station-indicator, a drum, 0, and an apron passing over the same, in combination with aroller, L, which bears against said apron on said drum, and a hinged arm, L, to which said roller is journaled, substantially as set forth.

2. A traveling indieatonapron having the names of stations marked thereon, in combination with mechanism for giving motion to said apron, and a finger attached to the frame or casing and adjustable with respect to any point on said apron, substantially as set forth.

3. A slide, J, and a device attached thereto for engaging with an obstacle on the car-track, in combination with a spring, H, attached to the upper end of said slide and serving to retract the same, a dog, F, carried by said slide, a ratcl1et-wheel, E, arranged to be engaged and turned by said dog, a drum, 0, attached to said ratchet-wheel and turning therewith, an endless indicator-apron passing over said drum, a roller, L, which bears against the top of said apron on the drum, and a hinged arm, L, to which said roller is journaled, substantially as described.

A. B. GILL.

Witnesses JOHN A. Wrnnnnsnnnr, A. I. GRANT. 

